Nigeria will have a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup for the first time in 25 years after Zamfara-born official Kasimu Abiola Abdulsalam was selected for the 2026 tournament in Qatar.
The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian referee on FIFA’s list of 81 match officials and one of four centre referees selected from Africa for the competition.
FIFA announced the appointments on Tuesday, confirming that 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations will officiate at the tournament.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup will take place in Qatar from November 19 to December 13, with 48 teams scheduled to compete in 104 matches.
Abdulsalam has built international experience through appearances at the CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, including the 2023 and 2026 editions, as well as other competitions in the West African region.
He became a FIFA-listed referee in 2022 and has continued to retain his international status through the required annual assessments.
His selection for the global tournament comes as another major assignment in his career. He has also been appointed to handle the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros, according to reports on his latest appointments.
FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the selected officials were chosen not only for their performances but also for their ability to work effectively within international refereeing teams and cope with the demands of a major tournament.
Abdulsalam’s appointment gives him an opportunity to officiate on one of football’s biggest youth stages and gain further experience at international level.
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, however, will not participate in the tournament after failing to progress through the West Africa Football Union qualifying stage.